2023 Equity Jeff Awards: Goodman, Teatro Vista and American Blues are the big winners

The Goodman Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of “The Who’s Tommy,” Teatro Vista and American Blues Theater’s staging of August Wilson’s “Fences” were big winners at Monday night’s 55th annual Joseph Jefferson Awards, presented to Chicago’s Equity theaters by the long-standing, all-volunteer Jeffs committee.

Monday was an especially good night for the Goodman, as director Robert Falls’ production of “The Cherry Orchard,” won best play honors for the large-productions category, with “Fences” and the Teatro Vista production of “The Dream King” winning in the midsized category.

Falls also was granted a special Jeff Award at the ceremony at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. Falls, who recently stepped down as the Goodman Theatre’s artistic director, was recognized for his long-standing contributions to Chicago theater.

Shattered Globe’s staging of the macabre musical “London Road” won the Jeff Award for best midsized musical, and for plays, the traditionally coveted best ensemble Jeff Award went to the cast of Rivendell Theatre Ensemble’s “Motherhouse.” For musical or revue, the ensemble winners were Court Theatre for “The Gospel at Colonus” and the Goodman for “Tommy.”

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

Winners for 2023 Jeff Awards for Equity Theater:

PRODUCTION OF A PLAY (LARGE): “The Cherry Orchard” - Goodman Theatre

PRODUCTION OF A PLAY (MIDSIZE):

• “The Dream King” - Teatro Vista

• “Fences” - American Blues Theater

PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (LARGE): “The Who’s Tommy” - Goodman Theatre

PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (MIDSIZE): “London Road” - Shattered Globe Theatre

ENSEMBLE FOR A PLAY: “Motherhouse” - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

ENSEMBLE FOR A MUSICAL OR REVUE:

• “The Gospel at Colonus” - Court Theatre

• “The Who’s Tommy” - Goodman Theatre

NEW WORK:

• Bekah Brunstetter and Ingrid Michaelson - “The Notebook” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

• Rebecca Gilman - “Swing State” - Goodman Theatre

• Marvin Quijada - “The Dream King” - Teatro Vista

• Tuckie White - “Motherhouse” - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

DIRECTOR OF A PLAY (LARGE): Robert Falls - “The Cherry Orchard” - Goodman Theatre

DIRECTOR OF A PLAY (MIDSIZE): Monty Cole - “Fences” - American Blues Theater

DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL (LARGE): Des McAnuff - “The Who’s Tommy” - Goodman Theatre

DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL (MIDSIZE): Elizabeth Margolius - “London Road” - Shattered Globe Theatre

PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - PLAY:

• Kamal Angelo Bolden (Troy Maxson) - “Fences” - American Blues Theater

• Marvin Quijada (Actor) - “The Dream King” - Teatro Vista

PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL:

• Ali Louis Bourzgui (Tommy) - “The Who’s Tommy” - Goodman Theatre

• Erica Stephan (Sally Bowles) - “Cabaret” - Porchlight Music Theatre

SOLO PERFORMANCE: Alexis J. Roston (Billie Holiday) - “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” - Mercury Theater Chicago

PERFORMER IN A REVUE:

• Felicia P. Fields - “Pearl’s Rollin’ With the Blues” - Writers Theatre

• Evan Mills - “Don’t Quit Your Daydream” - The Second City

PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY:

• Karen Aldridge (She) - “Is God Is” - A Red Orchid Theatre

• Meighan Gerachis (Aunt Weezie) - “Motherhouse” - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - MUSICAL:

• Mary Robin Roth (Fräulein Schneider) - “Cabaret” - Porchlight Music Theatre

• Elizabeth Stenholt (Medium Alison) - “Fun Home” - Paramount Theatre

SCENIC DESIGN (LARGE):

• Andrew Boyce - “Murder on the Orient Express” - Drury Lane Productions

• Jeffrey D. Kmiec - “Into the Woods” - Paramount Theatre

SCENIC DESIGN (MIDSIZE): Joe Schermoly - “The Dream King” - Teatro Vista

COSTUME DESIGN (LARGE): Bill Morey - “Cabaret” - Porchlight Music Theatre

COSTUME DESIGN (MIDSIZE): Robert Kuhn - “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” - Mercury Theater Chicago

SOUND DESIGN (LARGE): Gareth Owen - “The Who’s Tommy” - Goodman Theatre

SOUND DESIGN (MIDSIZE): Matthew Chapman - “The Dream King” - Teatro Vista

LIGHTING DESIGN (LARGE): Amanda Zieve - “The Who’s Tommy” - Goodman Theatre

LIGHTING DESIGN (MIDSIZE): Conchita Avitia - “The Dream King” - Teatro Vista

CHOREOGRAPHY: Lorin Latarro - “The Who’s Tommy” - Goodman Theatre

ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY: Matthew Chapman, Marvin Quijada, Elliot Taggart and Ethan T. Parcell - “The Dream King” - Teatro Vista

MUSIC DIRECTION: Rick Fox - “The Who’s Tommy” - Goodman Theatre

PROJECTION DESIGN: Peter Nigrini - “The Who’s Tommy” - Goodman Theatre

ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION:

• Drew Dir for puppet design - “Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol” - Writers Theatre and Manual Cinema

• Amanda Hermann and Yu Shibagaki for properties design - “Lucy and Charlie’s Honeymoon” - Lookingglass Theatre Company

• Mike Oleon for puppet design - “The Dream King” - Teatro Vista

SHORT RUN - PRODUCTION: “The Island” - Court Theatre

SHORT RUN - PERFORMER: Kelly Anne Clark (The Actor) - “Being Seen” - RG Productions